DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball shut out Meredith College twice to earn a doubleheader sweep in conference play on Wednesday at Cougar Field. Averett won 5-0 and 7-0 over the Avenging Angels.
 
Averett (19-10, 4-4 USA South) took an early 2-0 lead on Meredith (3-17, 0-6 USA South) in the bottom of the third inning with back-to-back RBI singles from juniors Nicole Cauthen and Breanna Murphy. The Cougars tacked on two more runs to make it 4-0 in the fourth when a Meredith error allowed freshmen Anna Coleman and Lauren Johnston to score.

Averett added another insurance run in the fifth when senior Taylor Hodges stole second base and junior Mallory Griffiths came home on the errant throw to second base that soared into center field.

Cauthen finished Game 1 with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate, while Coleman finished with a pair of hits.

Freshman Hannah Thompson (10-3) earned the win in the opener, striking out six for her fourth shutout of the season.

In Game 2, Averett plated four runs in the third inning to jump in front. Coleman smashed a two-run double to deep left-center to put the Cougars on the scoreboard. Meredith allowed two more runs in the frame as Cauthen and Thompson both scored on a fielding error tp extend Averett's lead to 4-0.

Averett struck again in the bottom of the sixth. The Cougars, who loaded the bases, got another run on a wild pitch that allowed sophomore pinch runner Myka Patterson to score from third. Freshman Erin Rankin drove in two more with a single to left-center to make it 7-0 Averett.

Ranking went 3-for-4 in the series finale.

Freshman Kaity Sullivan (4-1) went the distance in the circle while striking out three and allowing just three hits for her first complete game shutout.

Averett returns to action on Tuesday, April 2, when the Cougars play host to conference foe Methodist University for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.